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Gardaí must become human rights compliant – Ó Snodaigh

11 September, 2007

Reacting to a report from the Human Rights Commission today which states that the Garda Síochána are not fully human rights compliant Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said the Gardaí should continue to work with the Ombudsman Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and others to develop full human rights compliance in their policies and practices.

The Dublin South Central TD said today, "Policing can and must make a positive contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights. Best practice on human rights in policing requires, not only human rights training and periodic up-skilling, but also a pervasive human rights ethos. This must be underpinned by structures and systems that reflect a human rights-based philosophy of policing.

"While An Garda Síochána has certainly made some progress towards considering human rights in the course of its functions the organisation has a long way to go to reach the highest international standards of practice and even to reach equivalence with Six County policing arrangements.

"In a submission to the Garda Policing Plan 2008 Sinn Féin said the Gardaí should continue to work with the Ombudsman Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and others to develop full human rights compliance in their policies and practices. Today's report from the Human Rights Commission re-enforces the need for that demand to be included in the final policing plan for 2008." ENDS